The victory was Christopher’s second consecutive in as many weeks as he won
the Gambler’s Classic in Atlantic City, N.J.

With his most recent victory, which was his fifth in 10 outings in TQ-Midget
action, Christopher of Plainville, Conn., captured more than $9,000. In
addition to the winnings in Atlantic City, N.J., and Providence, R.I., he
won the Leonard J. Sammons Jr Indoor Series for having the best overall
finishers over the past two weeks.

“This is absolutely great,” Christopher said. “You can’t ask for a better
way to start the racing season.”

Christopher topped Ryan Smith of Kunkletown, Pa., in the 40-lap race. Tim
Buckwalter of Douglassville, Pa., was third, followed by Stewart Friesen of
Niagara-on-the-Lakes, Ont., and Mike Lichty of Innerkip, Ont.

“It means a lot to win in these cars and at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center,”
Christopher said. “Just last two years ago, we were all anxious about
finally having a race in Rhode Island and to win a race in the northeast
with all the race fans is pretty special.”

Christopher started fifth and really did not pose a threat until the 10th
lap.

Billy Pauch led the first four circuits before Lou Cicconi Jr took over on a
restart.

As the cars started to maneuver through lapped traffic on lap 15,
Christopher used the slower cars and some aggressive moves to generate the
lead from Cicconi.

When the race went to caution on lap 19, Cicconi showed his displeasure with
Christopher.

“I guess he wasn’t too happy,” Christopher said. “He pulled up beside me and
gave me a gesture with his arm and he bumped me a few times, but he thanked
me after I won.”

Cicconi fell from the runner-up spot on lap 31 when his engine overheated.

Smith, who secured a ride for the Coffee Cup on Tuesday, did his best to get
Christopher over the final nine circuits but nothing materialized.

“It was good we got to stick with him there at the end,” Smith said. “I
figured he would be gone.”

Double heat events were run as qualifiers. Billy Pauch won his two heat
events, while Christopher, Joey Payne, Matt Janisch, Frank Fischer, Friesen
and Mike Stefanik had one win each.

Mike Osite and Tim Proctor won the B-Mains.

Bryan Shields of Bethlehem, Pa. won a thrilling 25-lap Champ Kart main as he
took the lead with two laps remaining in the main event,

Nick Hadden of Vernon, Conn., was second, followed by DJ Shaw of Center
Conway, NH; Mike Perry of Dighton, Mass; and Matt Fenn of West Springfield,
Mass.